Instruction: - Steve "The Miz" Mizerak

"The Miz" Steve Mizerak was a Hall of Famer who began collecting titles in the late 1960's, including four U.S. Open Championships. He was one of the most recognizeable faces in the world of pool, appearing in the movie " The Color of Money" and a series of Miler Lite commercials. "The Miz" was named 5th in the 50 Greaest Players of the Century.  Steve Mizerak passed away on May 29, 2006 at the age of 61.

Bank Shots, Rail Shots and Combos

BANK SHOTS involve driving the object ball into one or more cushions on its way to the pocket. Keep in mind, as the speed of the ball increases, the angle of the bank shot also increases.

It is human nature to want to show-off a little on the table, and maybe poolplayers are a little more human than others. So they try bank shots, and often miss. Avoid bank shots, if possible.

However, if you must shoot a bank shot, please consider a few basic recommendations. Stay away from banks that require you to cut the object ball. Until you have more experience, limit yourself to banks that lie on, or very near, a natural angle. A natural angle presumes a center ball, medium speed, straight on hit on the object ball. When you hit an object ball in such a manner, it will come off the rail at the same angle it approached the rail. If that flush hit and natural angle will send the object ball to a pocket, it's worth attempting.

For some reason, most beginners tend to hit bank shots way too hard. I think the mind-set of most amateur players is that because you're doing something extra to the ball, you need to fire the ball as hard as possible. Not true. Use your normal stroke for bank shots that lie on a natural angle.

If the natural angle looks as though the object ball will hit a few inches short or a few inches beyond the pocket, you can compensate by hitting the cue ball harder or softer. A softer hit will cause the object ball to bank a tad longer; if hit more firmly, the object ball will tend to bank a touch shorter.

For now, that is essentially all you should concern yourself with when shooting bank shots. Don't try to impart english on a bank, and don't attempt to cut the ball. Stick to bank shots that can be hit straight on and with center ball. If the path needs to be adjusted slightly, do so by hitting the shot harder or softer.

SHOTS ALONG THE RAIL. Ask five different people how to shoot at a ball frozen to the rail, and you'll get five different answers! Some people say hit the rail first. Some say hit the object ball first. Still others suggest you contact the object ball and the rail simultaneously. A lot depends on where the cue ball must travel after the hit for position on the next ball. However, if it's the last shot of the game and you don't have to worry about position, I subscribe to the theory that the cue ball must contact the object ball and rail simultaneously. If you hit the rail first, you're going to kick the ball away from the rail. If you hit the object ball first, you'll drive it into the rail and throw it off course.

COMBINATION SHOTS are chain-reaction shots involving more than one object ball. Combos, as players love to call them, are deliciously tempting because they're impressive-when they work. If your combo is lined up directly to a pocket, the key is to aim the first ball to contact a certain spot on the ball you intend to pocket. Once that spot is determined, forget the pocket and concentrate on hitting the object ball in the right place. Unless the intended ball is teetering on the edge of a pocket, don't attempt combinations in which the object balls are more than a foot apart.

Practice, Practice, Practice.........

"THE MIZ"

P.S. I just opened a new room in Lake Park, Fla. Stop by and say hello!

Steve Mizerak's Billiards
914 Park Avenue
Lake Park, Florida 33403
561-840-8836
12 Noon to 2:00 a.m.